Chad Reed launches groundbreaking new Super X Series in Sydney
Australia’s newest motorcycling world champion, Chad Reed, was on hand and in action to officially launch the inaugural season of the Australasian Supercross Championship, Super X, with magnificent views of the Opera House at Sydney’s Circular Quay today.
This was his first Australian appearance since claiming a second combined World/AMA Supercross title in the United States in Las Vegas in May.
Reed spoke of his desire to make Super X which is a radical revamp of the traditional Supercross event a mainstream sport in his home country and help pave the way for younger riders.
He said the seven round national series with a one-off round in New Zealand would not only set a benchmark locally, but also around the world.
“This is a dream of mine, to return home and establish, as well as compete in, an all-new Supercross series which is why I have signed on as a major shareholder. ” said Reed.
“Global Action Sports have a lot of experience in creating successful, sports and entertainment events and I’m excited to be working with Mike (Porra) who is the promoter of the Crusty Demons live shows and the team.”
The high intensity and adrenaline fuelled series will combine world-class riders, expertly-designed international tracks, innovative new race formats, live television coverage and a spectacular entertainment package.
“The new race formats break tradition and really shake up the sport. They will make for faster, cut-throat, exciting and competitive racing, not seen before anywhere on the planet.”
“Super X will raise the bar worldwide. I know there is growing interest from the US-based competitors in the series and to have some high-profile riders travel down under to take part will be awesome for the sport and the fans.”
The overhaul of Supercross begins with four all-new revolutionary race formats that pit riders in a bar-to-bar battle to the chequered flag – Super Sprint, Man-on-Man, Survival and The Triple Challenge.
The formats stray from the sport’s traditional model and will ensure spectacular race action for both the crowd and television viewers.
Man-on-Man pits two riders only in a one lap sprint. First past the chequered flag after just one lap will move on with the loser eliminated. Heats, quarters, semis and a final – fast and furious racing.
Survival, as the name suggests, is an all-out battle for survival through four five lap races where the bottom five are eliminated each time until only five are left to fight it out. A one minute rest from when the first rider crosses the line, will make this event even more punishing.
The Triple Challenge will see 20 riders fight it out in three separate races of six laps with points gained in each race to go toward their final tally for the round.
Super Sprint will see four heats of 10 riders with the winner of each proceeding straight to the grand final. From there competitors positioned second to fifth will fight it out in the semi finals with those fierce and fast enough to finish in the top four joining the original riders in the final.
Tracks will be custom designed and built for each venue, with internationally renowned American designer, Mark Barnett, set to create full US style tracks for the first ever time in Australia at huge expense to Super X promoters.
Mike Porra, promoter of the internationally-acclaimed Crusty Demons live shows, is striving to revolutionise the niche sport and bring the bar-to-bar action to a mainstream audience.
Porra said that the series would introduce a number of groundbreaking new elements that would see it rival the hugely-popular sport in the United States.
“It’s our ambition to revolutionise the sport globally with Super X. The new race formats and our plans for entertainment and television coverage have never been seen before even in the USA and Europe,” said Porra.
“We will be drawing on our experience from the Crusty Demons live shows to ensure that each round is not only an action packed race but an entertainment package that will blow fans away, both at the track and on TV.”
“Chad’s commitment to race in the series will give it a massive boost and already there is strong interest from international riders, who are hoping to head down under to ride in the series.”
The Sydney event marks the mid-point of the fast-paced Australasian Supercross Championship which will visit regional and capital cities in Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales, before moving to the first international race in Auckland, NZ.
”Parramatta Stadium is a perfect venue for Supercross. Fans will be so close to the action. The other reason we chose Parramatta is that it is right in the heart of Sydney.”
“In Sydney, the Survival format will break cover for the first time ever,” added Porra. “This is a world-first, no holds-barred contest and only the strong will survive.”
“The biggest question on everyone’s lips will be ‘Can anyone challenge the world champion Chad (Reed)?’ Sportsfans, both in the crowd and watching from their lounge rooms, don’t have much longer to find out,” he added.
The reality of the first-run Survival format is harsh and hard-hitting – finish amongst the frontrunners or be left languishing in the settling dust; no alliances, no second chances.
The 20 rider field will be slashed to 15, then 10 and finally five for the final, and a 60-second time limit between each race will leave riders little time to recover, bringing core fitness and endurance to the fore.
”The Survival format where riders have only 60 seconds rest between four races will be amazing to watch. The transitions with riders running their bikes to the start line will be great sport.”
Riders from Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha and KTM will be vying for event honours in both the Pro Open (450cc) and Pro Lite (250cc) classes, with the current Australian ranks featuring an incredibly high calibre of talent.
In an encouraging world-first for the sport, the entire Super X series will be telecast live on Fox Sports. Even in the USA where the sport is so well established, not all races are televised live.
In addition, a one-hour highlights package per round will be compiled and broadcast on free-to-air’s ‘Home of Motorsport’, Network Ten.
Premier venues across five states will be utilised to bring the sport to as many fans as possible and ensure it is a truly national series
The schedule for the seven round Australasian Supercross Championship (Super X) is as follows:
– October 4 – Perth Motorplex – 15,000 capacity
– October 18 – Adelaide Showgrounds – 15,000 capacity
– October 25 – Skilled Stadium Geelong – 20,000 capacity
– November 8 – Parramatta Stadium – 20,000 capacity
– November 15 – WIN Stadium Wollongong – 20,000 capacity
– November 22 – Dairy Farmers Stadium Townsville – 26,500 capacity
– November 29 – Brisbane QSAC – 50,000 capacity
Race Formats
As well as the standard 20 rider, 20 lap format, Super X will break the boundaries of regular competition by introducing four innovative race formats for the Open class finals to test riders and enthral fans – trackside or on live television.
Super X Super Sprint
Pace is at a premium in this hard-charging battle for a berth in the finals, the heats will separate contenders and pretenders.
• 4 heats of 10 riders, 1st place to the finals, 2nd-5th to the semi’s
• 2 semi finals of 8 riders, 1st-4th to the finals
• 12 riders will contest the final 5-lap event for event honours• All races over 5 laps
Super X Survival
It’s every rider for himself as five fall at a time, with only a limited time between each stoush. The night’s fastest five will square off in a 5-lap dash to the flag for event honours.
• 2 heats of 20 riders, 1st-10th in each heat to the finals
• 20 riders will become 15, then 10 and finally 5, with the slowest eliminated each time. Four separate races each over 5 laps
• The final 5 riders will do battle in a 5-lap sprint to event honours
• Riders will have a limited time to refocus between stages in this fast-paced format which will require strong endurance skills
Super X Man-on-Man
Finishing up front is the only way to move through the man-on-man format, with the full field reduced to a final of just 3 riders through an exciting elimination process.
• 2 heats of 20 riders, 1st-8th in each heat to format finals
• 8 heats of 2 riders on just one flying lap, winners progress to quarter finals, losers eliminated
• 4 quarter finals of 2 riders on just one flying lap, winners progress to semi finals, losers eliminated
• 2 semi finals of 2 riders on just one lap, winners progress to final, losers face-off in a last-chance battle for a place in the final
• 2 finalists and the last-chance winner do battle in a 3-way, 2 lap dash for event honours
Triple Challenge
The final 20 riders will face off in 3 separate 6 lap races where riders will gain round points depending on their finishing position in each of the 3 races. At the end of the 3 races the total points granted over all three races will be totalled to find the overall winner of the round.
Track Design
Renowned American track designer Mark Barnett will design and build AMA style tracks at each venue. Rated by the worlds leading riders as the best track designer and builder there is, Barnett currently designs training tracks both in the USA and Australia for World Supercross Champion Chad Reed.
Television Package
Dedicated and comprehensive coverage of Super X will help to raise the profile of riders, manufacturers and sponsors. The television schedule is as follows:
Fox Sports
2 hour season preview, 8:00 – 10:00pm Saturday
2.5 hour LIVE coverage of all 7 rounds, 8:00 – 10:30pm Saturday
2 hour season highlights package, 8:00 – 10:00pm Saturday
Fuel TV
All 9 two-hour programs will be televised on Fuel TV on a delayed basis the following day (Sunday Afternoon) and again on Fox Sports.
Network Ten
1 hour season preview, weekend daytime
1 hour highlights package for each of 7 rounds, weekend daytime
1 hour season highlights package, weekend daytime
Prize Money
There has never been more of an incentive to win than with the new Super X series, with a major increase in prize money for riders and some exciting performance-based rewards.
Total prize money for the series is $210,000. This is an increase on the 2007 Australian Supercross Championship of over 300%.
Classes of Competition
Competitors will battle it out on either Open or Lites machines with wildcards expected to inject some youthful exuberance.
Classes are divided under current MA regulations
Pointscore (pays positions 1-20 per round) NB: The scoring for the new race formats will be unique and are still TBC, but will always result in the same amount of points for each round.
P1. 25 points
P2. 22 points
P3. 20 points
P4. 18 points
P5. 16 points
P6. 15 points
P7. 14 points
P8. 13 points
P9. 12 points
P10. 11 points
P11. 10 points
P12. 9 points
P13. 8 points
P14. 7 points
P15. 6 points
P16. 5 points
P17. 4 points
P18. 3 points
P19. 2 points
P20. 1 point
